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QOTD: Did You Preorder Windows 7?

By - Source: Tom's Hardware US | B 171 comments

Windows 7 upgrades were on cheap for a limited time only. Did you get yours?

Last Saturday was the closing day for Microsoft's Windows 7 preorder program, representing what could be the last chance to grab a Home Premium or Professional license at half price or less.

Last month, when Microsoft announced retail pricing for Windows 7, it also rolled out a preorder program that offered a significant discount that would  run from June 26 to July 11. The special offer from Microsoft prices the Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade at $49.99 – a huge savings from the usual price of $119.99. Those looking for the Professional version can get for half price at $99.99 as part of the deal.

Microsoft said that quantities would be limited, and that it'd be limited to around the same number of Windows Vista licenses sold at retail in its first year. That means that Microsoft is aiming to break the previous generation’s sales record before Windows 7 is even released.

While some stores sold out of the discounted upgrades, the virtual stock wasn't completely depleted, meaning that Microsoft hasn't broken any sales records yet. (Though, once it does, expect Microsoft to make a big deal about it.)

Nevertheless, we imagine that for most of you the chance to buy a Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade license for $49.99 when the regular price is $119.99 is one that's hard to pass up.

So without further ado, our QOTD is: did you preorder Windows 7? If so, which SKU? And if you didn't preorder, tell us why!

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  • 3 Hide
    Ogdin , July 14, 2009 12:49 AM
    Nope,going to stick with Vista 64,didn't see anything worth upgrading when i used the Win7 rc.
  • 3 Hide
    Danielw719 , July 14, 2009 12:50 AM
    No.
  • 5 Hide
    Anonymous , July 14, 2009 12:53 AM
    I did pre-order Win 7 after trying out the RC and found it worked well with nearly all my components. I chose Win 7 Pro to replace my XP Pro.
  • Display all 171 comments.
  • 1 Hide
    dzeric , July 14, 2009 12:54 AM
    No, it was really sad. I was looking forward to it, at that price, but the RC locked up every 30 min or so due to horrible Creative sound drivers. I gotta have my surround sound :(  . Staying with Vista x64
  • 5 Hide
    tester24 , July 14, 2009 12:56 AM
    I ended up getting the Windows 7 Professional, didn't feel like paying for the Ultimate because as nice as bitlocker would be to have, I can't see spending an extra 100 or so for it, especially with a lot of freeware tools that do the same job.

    Been using the RC and can say I can't wait for the full version.
  • 4 Hide
    Ogdin , July 14, 2009 12:56 AM
    Really? I had no issues with my x-fi drivers.In fact i had no issues to speak of at all.
  • 0 Hide
    dingumf , July 14, 2009 12:56 AM
    What happens to my Vista after the upgrade? Can I still let my friend install while I have Windows 7?

  • 7 Hide
    acecombat , July 14, 2009 12:58 AM
    Waiting for an OEM release...
  • -7 Hide
    Anonymous , July 14, 2009 1:07 AM
    Nope, waiting for the pirated final, probably next week ;) 
  • 2 Hide
    itsme , July 14, 2009 1:08 AM
    yes, I have been running 64-bit win7 since beta without a problem, games run great. My X-fi sound card worked since day one. I got it because I'm running 8gb of ram now so I need a 64-bit OS.
  • 2 Hide
    Zagen30 , July 14, 2009 1:15 AM
    I pre-ordered an upgrade for my 2-year-old laptop that has Vista Home Premium. I'm going to have to wait to get 7 for my new desktop since the only OS on it is 7 RC (didn't want to pay for an OS with 7 right around the corner). If they make a retail family pack at a good price (i.e. if the family pack is cheaper than an upgrade and one retail copy) I may cancel the laptop's upgrade. I figure that by March, when the RC starts shutting down every 2 hours, I'll be able to find a decent price on a retail copy of 7.
  • 3 Hide
    Anonymous , July 14, 2009 1:17 AM
    I ordered two copies of Home Premium and one of Ultimate.

    Figured I'd get them while I have the money. Windows 7 runs much better than Vista ever did.
  • 4 Hide
    cletus_slackjawd , July 14, 2009 1:19 AM
    I was tempted to pre-order a single copy of win7 until I heard about the likely "family pack" 3 user license for around $150.00. Will buy it on post with a military discount, maybe after the hype wears out and some patches are released.
  • 0 Hide
    Anonymous , July 14, 2009 1:21 AM
    Yeah, two copies preordered for Home Premium. Shame they didn't offer the deal on Ultimate. Not that I really needed/wanted its features :) 
  • 8 Hide
    Anonymous , July 14, 2009 1:23 AM
    Have 4 PCs in the home, all are 7 capable. Have been using RC1 on 2 full time. Can't wait for release, so I signed up for Technet today, using discount coupon code. Ended up paying 280$ US for 10 licenses of 7 Ultimate, clean installations to boot, no Vista to 7 upgrades =) I'll also be getting Office 2010 as part of the technet subscription, woot!

    Coupon code is: TMSAM10 Not sure if it is only US...
  • 0 Hide
    martin33w20 , July 14, 2009 1:30 AM
    Of course, change is a part of the I.T. world. I already had full retail copies of visa home prem64, so I got the upgrade. Since I have 5 computers, I will wait for the family pack for the others. I believe it will be the next XP and adopted by the Corporate Markets, skipping Vista!
  • 1 Hide
    Anonymous , July 14, 2009 1:35 AM
    Windows 7 is to Vista as Windows 98 was to Windows 95 ie. a minor upgrade. I am waiting for the next XP. I need some radical changes to the O/S before I say good-bye to XP. Where is my "no reboot", resizable partitions, optional drive letters, symbolic links, and features that I haven't seen in Unix O/S? Come on Microsoft, how can you spend billions and produce such ordinary stuff?
  • 6 Hide
    blaze589 , July 14, 2009 1:38 AM
    No. I'm currently up and running on a Pentium D 830 processor which isn't worth further investments given its aged performance. I'll pick up a full OEM installation when I, Dr. Frankenstein create a new beast.
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